It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)

Excellent but underrated film

A Masterpiece!

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Up in Central Park, the millionaire businessmen abandon their century old mansions for equally old mansions in Virginia. Powerful businessman Charlie Ruggles isn't quite Ebenezer Scrooge, but if he doesn't change his ways, he'll be haunting Manhattan a la Jacob Marley. Tearing down cheap $40 a month apartments in the poor section of town, his management company kicks war veteran Don DeFore out, and after an encounter with foppish Victor Moore, he accepts an invitation to move into a Fifth Avenue mansion, owner by Ruggles but boarded up for the winter. In the meantime, Ruggles discovers that his 18 year old daughter (Gale Storm) has run away from boarding school. Guess where Ms. Storm shows up, creating more chaos, especially when Ruggles finally locates her.A touching comedy that has absolutely no reality, but ends up working simply because it is presented so sweetly. The real star is the adorable Victor Moore, seen at the very beginning sneaking into the house via a manhole. He's sort of the den mother, a rather pickled old darling who could charm the ticker symbol off of a stock report. Charlie Ruggles is cast against type but an absolute delight. Early '30s leading lady Ann Harding is still a stunner and gets some nice lighthearted moments as his estranged wife who becomes a last minute addition thanks to the scheming machinations of daughter Storm. The future "My Little Margie" makes a perky young heroine, smoothly paired with the handsome DeFore.A nice roster of character actors ably support the leads, with a very young Alan Hale Jr. instantly recognizable as one of the many interlopers. DeFore and Hale take on child hating landlord Charles Lane in a surprisingly violent but amusing manner. Grant Mitchell, Edward Brophy and Vera Lewis are just a few of the familiar faces who pop up in bits. There's a few songs thrown in for good measure. When stage veteran Moore throws on a Santa suit for a Christmas celebration, you might find all of your cynicism's disappearing. It's just a tiny bit overlong, but why should that matter when it makes you feel so good?

A lovely holiday tale about a hobo, Victor Moore, who uses a millionaire's mansion on Fifth Avenue during the winter months. He knows when the millionaire leaves for his winter home and respectfully lives like a king in the mansion, only this year he meets down and out, homeless Don DeFore and invites him to stay. Soon the mansion is refuge to a couple of DeFore's friends and their wives, the millionaire's runaway daughter, and even the millionaire and his ex-wife, who all learn a valuable life lesson from the wise and kindly tolerant hobo. This film is full of fun and perfectly performed by fine actors and actresses of the day and so very well directed to deliver a humanitarian message of compassion, kindheartedness, charity and love. This brilliant and enjoyable sentimental story set during the Christmas season, will certainly enrich all who watch.

Slightly tipsy hobo Victor Moore (as Aloysius T. McKeever) arrives with his dog "Sam" at a swanky New York City brownstone. This is where he spends the winter, while owner and "second richest man in the world" Charles Ruggles (as Michael "Mike" O'Connor) is in Virginia at his "Bubbling Springs" mansion. Meanwhile, World War II veteran Don DeFore (as Jim Bullock) is down on his luck and in his underwear. Thrown out of a tenement, Mr. DeFore is sleeping on a city bench when Mr. Moore happens by, his ragged clothes replaced by Mr. Ruggles' classy duds. Moore invites DeFore over to his adopted mansion...Houseguest DeFore's homeless buddies move in because their prospective apartment won't allow children. Young father Edward Ryan Jr. (as Hank) begs him to reconsider, but landlord Charles Lane asserts, "We don't take children!" Dripping with sarcasm, Alan Hale Jr. (as Whitey) offers to drown the kids while DeFore asks, "If he lets your kids in, everybody'd start having children - then what would happen to the human race?" Meanwhile, nubile young heiress Gale Storm (as Trudy O'Connor) runs away from school, intending to hide out in New York while her father's away. Hoping to stay incognito, Ms. Storm decides to pose as a vagrant in her own mansion. Naturally, father Ruggles hires a detective, and divorced mother Ann Harding (as Mary O'Connor) is also concerned...The whimsical fun continues with Moore and Ruggles reversing their rich man, poor man roles. The older gentlemen are in fine form. Minor bits with tailor Abe Reynolds and waiter Pat Goldin's wobbly table add to the fun, smoothly guided by producer/director Roy Del Ruth. The thoroughly charming script, by Herbert Clyde Lewis and Frederick Stephani, won a much-deserved "Academy Award" nomination. Other than that, "It Happened on Fifth Avenue" seems to have fallen through the cracks. If you're looking for "lost gems" among old movies, you'll find one here.********* It Happened on Fifth Avenue (4/19/47) Roy Del Ruth ~ Victor Moore, Charles Ruggles, Don DeFore, Ann Harding

Genial homeless man in New York illegally moves into a millionaire's mansion while the rich businessman is away for the winter, eventually inviting other unfortunates to join him; naturally, the owner returns home unexpectedly--and is forced to play along under the guise of a destitute codger after his teenage daughter falls in love with one of the unemployed "idea men" now residing in the estate. Fanciful story from Herbert Clyde Lewis and Frederick Stephani, given a tightly-adjusted script from Everett Freeman (who manages not to be too treacly within this unlikely scenario). There are lots of funny visual jokes, and a nice turn from Charles Ruggles as the second wealthiest man in the world, yet the idea of strangers breaking into someone's house and making themselves to home is probably less 'adorable' now than it was in 1947. Still, director Roy Del Ruth keeps it light-hearted and whimsical, and the supporting cast is cheerful. **1/2 from ****